Petition drive formed to repeal voter ID law

Groups opposed to the state’s new voter ID requirement are mounting a petition drive to urge lawmakers to repeal the law.

A coalition that includes the League of Woman Voters of Nashville, ACLU of Tennessee and NAACP of Tennessee will launch the drive to pull back the law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, with a press conference at 1 p.m. at the state Capitol. The kickoff will follow testimony by state election coordinator Mark Goins this morning on how the law is being implemented.

The petition (available online here) is nonbinding. It calls on lawmakers to reconsider passage of the law, which requires voters to show photo identification at the polls. Opponents say this requirement is difficult for the poor, elderly, disabled and others who do not have driver’s licenses.

“We reject Public Chapter No. 323 which requires eligible Tennessee voters to present a government-issued photo in order to vote.

We believe that Public Chapter No. 323 creates artificial and insurmountable barriers to the ballot box. As a result, this law discourages political participation by many Tennesseans who have a right to a voice in the political process, in particular senior citizens, the disabled, rural and low-income voters, people of color, and college students.

Preserving access to the ballot box is key to preserving the fundamental principles on which this country was founded. Public Chapter No. 323 imposes an undue burden on Tennesseans seeking to enjoy the full benefits of democracy and must be repealed.”